Page 7 Portland Observer J U L Y 20,1989 TCICablevision of Oregon, Inc. COURT AGAIN DENIES APPEAL FOR GERONIMO PRATT Friday, July 7, the Ninth Circuit Court of appeals refused to recon­ sider its decision of one year ago to throw out Geronimo Pratt’s appeal on an insignificant legal techn icality.Pratt, a former Los Angeles Black Panther Party leader has been in jail for more than 19 years for a crime he did not commit. And for 19 years he has fought to uncover and expose the FBI/COINTELPRO (counterintelligence program) cam­ paign of murder and disruption against the Black Panther Party and olhers- a program which took the lives of 38 of Pratt’s Panther brothers and sis­ ters. Last year, after scheduling the ap­ peal, after rewarding the briefs, after hearing oral argument exposing the COINTELPRO frame-up which put Pratt behind bars, the panel of three Nixon and Reagan appointees said "judicial integrity” required Pratt’s appeal be thrown out solely because it was filed a few days late! The full panel of the Ninth Circuit refused to reconsider that decision, but in De­ cember the same three judges.without explanation, ordered reargument solely on the question o f the late filing. Two days ago they again shot down Geronimo’s hopes without even touching the merits of his case. Thousands have endorsed Pratt’s fight for freedom. Congressman Ron Dellums, Chairman of the Congres­ sional Black Caucus, has introduced House Resolution 109, calling for tne immediate release trom prison of Elmer ‘Geronimo’ Pratt.” The Partisan Defense Committee calls on all of Pratt’s supporters, for labor and civil rights activists to redouble their efforts to generate the widest cam­ paign of protest and publicity to demand “ Freedom Now for Geron­ imo Pratt.” " I f they had no intention of let­ ting Pratt have his case heard, why did they call for a rehearing?’' asked Valerie West, staff counsel of the Partisan Defense Committed. “ Are they trying to break the spirit o f a man who, like Nelson Mandela, remains unbroken and committed to the. cause of black freedom?” To get Pratt behind bars the FBI withheld evidence and knowingly allowed an FBI informant to testify as a chief prosecution witness while denying he was an informant or had ever worked for the FBI. In 1987 CBS’ " 6 0 Minutes” aired an expose of Pratt's frame-up in which jurors at the initial trial stated they would have voted to acquit had they known these facts! Pratt has long sought the release of FBI wiretap logs which would prove Pratt was in Oakland at the time of the Los Angeles murder. The FBI claims these records have been "lo st.” At a 1985 hearing in the fed­ eral district court in Los Angeles re­ tired FBI agent Wesley Swearingen, who saw the logs, testified on Pratt’s behalf. Swearingen has publicly stated that "P ratt was set up.” The racist refusal to free this fighter for the rights of blacks and other mi­ norities comes on the heels of recent TOP LEVEL WELCOME! U.S. Supreme Court decisions gut­ ting the ability of blacks and other minorities to challenge discrimina­ tion through the courts, giving the green light to execute juveniles and threatening women's fundamental right of abortion. The Ninth Circuit’s refusal to consider Pratt’s appeal il­ lustrates the increasing obstacles to challenging state court frame-ups in the federal courts, the judicial af­ firmation of the segregationists’ cherished "statesrights.” "Itrecalls what Justice Taney said in sending Dred Scott back into slavery, that ‘blacks had no rights which the white man was bound to respect’ “ said Don Andrews,of the Bay Area Labor Black League for Social Defense. “ Pratt, a decorated black Vietnam vet has spent nearly half his life behind bars-for committing no ‘crime’ other than opposing racist oppression, while Oliver North, a criminal responsible for the death of tens of thousands of starving Nicaraguan workers and peasants, spends not one day in jail.’’? “ Once again it is shown that CO­ INTELPRO resides in the august chambers of the federal bench,” said the PDC’s West. "T he court has inherent power to waive any proce­ dural defect, " in the interests of jus­ tice.’ But to those given their lofty positions by the same men who put Pratt where he is today-Nixon, Reagan,M eese-fmally setting free America’s foremost class-war pris­ oner is not in the interests of Ameri­ can capitalism’s racist ‘justice.’” Registered Nurse (Substitute On C all) Provide health care to students en­ rolled in public schools pre-kin- dergarten-12th, in multnomah county. Salary: $1OO.38/Day Appl deadline: 8/4/89 pm Call 255-1841, Ext 207 for Multnomah Education Service District, applica­ tion form and additional informa­ tion. presents PACIFIC BALLET THEATRE’S TAPPIN’i 11208477 PERFORMANCE July 21 and 2 2,1989 - 8:00 p.m. Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Honi Coles as Master of Ceremonies Featuring: Terry Brock, Eddie Brown, Brenda Bufalino, Steve Condos, Lynn Dally, LaVaughn Robinson, Jimmy Slyde, Dianne Walker, Sam Weber and The Jazz Tap Ensemble with Tickets: Available at: Pacific Ballet Theatre 227-6867 *9.00-*25.00* PCPA 248-4496 Al, GIJoe/Ticketmaster Outlets Post Performance Party with Michael Harrison and the Tappin' Masters on July 22. For information call 227-6867. -f& -ELECTRIC^ A*A AmericanAirlines *A11 tickets subject to surcharge. GALA NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CONCERT TO FEATURE TOP ENTERTAINERS LOU RAWLS, ASHFORD & SIMPSON, O’JAYS AND LEVERT A gala benefit concert will be held on Monday, August 7 at 7:30 p.m. during the National Urban League Conference at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Headlining the concert will be the popular songwriting/singing team of Ashford & Simpson, four time Grammy award-winner Lou Rawls, the legendary O ’Jays, and LeVert of “ Casanova fame. The concert is sponsored by Anheuser-Bush Companies, CBS RECORDS INC., Coca Cola Company, and Warner Commu­ nications Inc. The concert, open to the public and conference participants, will be held in Hall A of the Washington Convention Center. Tickets will be sold through advanced registration and will be available through Washington area Ticketron outlets and at the Washington Convention Center Box office. Ticket prices are $20 for General Admission and $100 for Premium Admission. Those purchasing $100 tickets will enjoy premium seating at the concert, plus an invitation to the Post-Gala Reception with the concert stars. Special Benefactor Packages will also be available that will include unique gifts and events. For inquiries, contact the Conferences Department, National Urban League, Inc. 500 East 62nd Street, New York, NY 10021, (212) 310-9033. Support Our Advertisers! Say you Saw It In The Portland Observer! ?S IS 1E N SV s 3